Gilman School, Carey Hall Restoration & Student Activity Center

Gilman School, Carey Hall Restoration & Student Activity Center required a highly adaptive construction approach to deliver a complex combination of historic renovation and new construction within an active campus environment. Lewis Contractors served as Construction Manager at Risk for this 127,000 SF project, which included a new three-story, 53,000 SF Student Activities Center (SAC) with a 14,000 SF green roof, alongside the comprehensive restoration of the historic 1910 Carey Hall.

Early in construction, a significant unforeseen condition emerged when Carey Hall—initially believed to be a steel-framed structure—was revealed to be a compromised concrete system. This discovery required immediate redesign and implementation of an innovative structural restoration strategy before renovation could proceed. Lewis Contractors worked closely with the design team to develop and execute a solution, recovering a substantial portion of the added cost through disciplined buyout and value engineering efforts.

Executing the Gilman School, Carey Hall Restoration & Student Activity Center project required precise sequencing and systems planning. All major building services for the combined facility were routed through the new SAC addition, even though Carey Hall was scheduled for completion first. Electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and fire protection systems were installed in their final positions and protected throughout both phases, ensuring seamless integration without rework or delay.

Subsurface conditions also presented challenges, with a high water table requiring continuous pumping and robust below-grade drainage systems to maintain a dry structure. Lewis Contractors managed these conditions through proactive site strategies that remain effective long-term.

Construction occurred adjacent to occupied academic buildings and along the school’s primary circulation routes, requiring strict safety protocols, secure staging, and careful coordination. Lewis Contractors developed a rear-campus access plan that allowed all construction activity to occur out of view, maintaining uninterrupted daily operations for students and faculty.

The completed complex includes classrooms, science spaces, a library with restored historic woodwork, dining facilities, and student gathering areas. By integrating historic preservation with new construction and complex systems coordination, Lewis Contractors delivered a cohesive academic environment with minimal disruption to campus life.